Background to this inspection
Updated
9 January 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
1 Whitehall Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service did not have a manager registered with the CQC. This means there was no manager legally responsible for how the service was run.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. This information helps support out inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We observed staff interact with people at the service. We spoke with four members of staff including the manager, and three members of care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Following the inspection
Following the inspection we spoke with a relative and an advocate who supported all three people living at the service.
Updated
9 January 2020
About the service
Inshore Support Ltd – 1 Whitehall Road is registered to provide accommodation and personal care to three people. People who live there may have a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of the inspection three people lived at the home.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service an live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
There had not been a registered manager in post since March 2019. It is a legal requirement that a registered manager be in post in registered care services. A new manager had been appointed by the service and applied to become registered manager of the service.
People were supported by staff who knew them well, were aware of the risks to them on a daily basis and the actions they should take to reduce those risks and keep people safe from harm.
Staff had received training in how to safeguard people from abuse and where concerns had been raised they had been acted on and responded to appropriately.
People were supported to receive their medication as prescribed by their GP.
Accidents and incidents were reported, recorded and acted on. Information was analysed for any lessons to be learnt.
Staff felt supported and listened to and were provided with a variety of training opportunities in order to obtain the skills needed to support people safely and effectively. Staff competencies were regularly assessed and staff were given the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have through regular supervision meetings.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were supported to access a variety of healthcare services to help them maintain good health and to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet.
People were treated with dignity and respect by a group of staff who knew them well. Staff respected people’s decisions on how they wished to spend their time and encouraged people to maintain their independence, where possible.
Staff knew people well. Care plans held details regarding people’s likes and dislikes, their individual goals, how they wished to be supported and what was important to them. People were supported to maintain relationships with family and take part in activities they enjoyed. People’s opinions were sought through meetings and surveys. Relatives had no complaints but were confident if they raised concerns they would be responded to appropriately.
Staff and relatives were complimentary of the service and the manager. There were a variety of audits in place to provide the manager with oversight of the service. The manager was keen to develop and improve the service and worked alongside other agencies to meeting people’s needs. The staff were onboard with the manager’s vision for the service.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 30 June 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.